NCAA Tournament 2012: Guaranteed Outcomes for Every Sweet 16 Game

The NCAA tournament is through the first weekend and there are only 16 teams left. By the time Sunday rolls around, there will only be four teams left to battle it out for the national title.

The Rounds of 64 and 32 have shattered brackets. For some, their Final Four is already destroyed, and now they're pulling for every upset possible in an effort to still win their bracket.

Some of those upsets will happen, while others won't. It all starts on Thursday.

Here's a look at the guaranteed outcomes for all Sweet 16 games.

South Region: No. 1 Kentucky vs. No. 4 Indiana

It's a rematch from December, and if it's anything like the first game, we're in for a good one here. Indiana won 73-72 on a buzzer-beater by Christian Watford.

However, this time around I don't think the score will be as close.

Except for a loss to Vanderbilt in the SEC tournament final, the Wildcats have been on a tear since that loss to the Hoosiers. There seems to be an even bigger chip on their shoulder after losing to Vanderbilt, and Indiana is not in a good position this time around.

Look for Anthony Davis and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist to really take over the game and propel the Wildcats to the win.

Prediction: Kentucky 78, Indiana 65

South Region: No. 3 Baylor vs. No. 10 Xavier

Xavier had a little trouble with No. 15-seeded Lehigh in the Round of 32, before finally pulling away.

The Musketeers have have flown under the radar all year, but have made their presence felt in the NCAA tournament.

Up next for them is Baylor, who ended the season with four straight games against tournament teams. The Bears seem to be the primed to make a run at the Final Four and look to have the clear advantage in this matchup.

Prediction: Baylor 75, Xavier 69

West Region: No. 1 Michigan State vs. No. 4 Louisville

This is a very intriguing matchup. Until the Big East tournament started, Louisville had lost three of its last four.

Since their final regular-season game loss to Syracuse, the Cardinals have reeled off six straight wins and are looking to make the same run that Connecticut did last year.

However, to do so, the Cardinals have to get through one of the most complete teams in the tournament, Michigan State. The Spartans look to have all the tools to make a run at the national title, and they're not going to let the Big East champs stop them.

Look for Michigan State to crank it up to another level and pull this one out.

Prediction: Michigan State 75, Louisville 68

West Region: No. 3 Marquette vs. No. 7 Florida

I love everything about Marquette. The Golden Eagles play good defense and even their big men can shoot from beyond the arc.

Although they've struggled at times during the NCAA tournament, they're still in prime position to make a run at their first Final Four since 2003 and third in school history.

The Florida Gators are a hard team to read. Some games, they're all over it and doing what you'd expect out of a Billy Donovan team. In other games, you just look at them and wonder how long they've actually played together.

In the end, Marquette's size is going to be the difference.

Prediction: Marquette 71, Florida 57

East Region: No. 1 Syracuse vs. No. 4 Wisconsin

After Fab Melo was declared ineligible for the tournament, the Sweet 16 is where many people predicted that Syracuse would bow out of the tournament. After a first-round scare against UNC-Asheville, that was looking all the more likely.

However, Syracuse has come together and shown that it's still a national title contender.

Wisconsin, on the other hand, pulled a mild upset over Vanderbilt in the Round of 32, although the Badgers have the higher seed.

The Badgers have the ability to exploit your weakness and use it to their advantage. However, Syracuse will continue to play with a chip on its shoulder and take this one.

Prediction: Syracuse 61, Wisconsin 57

East Region: No. 2 Ohio State vs. No. 6 Cincinnati

I'm guessing I wasn't the only one surprised that Cincinnati beat Florida State in the Round of 32. The Bearcats seem to be on a hot streak, despite losing the Big East title game to Louisville.

Ohio State does have a huge size advantage in this one. The Buckeyes have more size inside and a player that can really take over a game in Jared Sullinger.

Sullinger and Deshaun Thomas control the middle on both sides of the court, and if the Bearcats aren't careful, this game could be a runaway quickly.

I don't see that happening—a runaway game, that is.

Prediction: Ohio State 68, Cincinnati 65

Midwest Region: No. 1 North Carolina vs. No. 13 Ohio

Ohio is one of this year's Cinderellas. After upsetting Michigan in the first round, the Bobcats found a way to beat South Florida and advance to the Sweet 16.

But, just like Lehigh and Norfolk State were overmatched in the Round of 32 after pulling major upsets, Ohio seems to be overmatched against the Tar Heels.

The biggest question for North Carolina is how the absence of Kendall Marshall is going to affect the team. In this matchup, I don't think it has much of an effect.

Prediction: North Carolina 84, Ohio 68

Midwest Region: No. 11 N.C. State vs. No. 2 Kansas

North Carolina State just might be the team that could make a run to the Final Four this year. The Wolfpack are clicking at the right time and have a very winnable game against Kansas next.

Ever since they lost four in a row in late February, the Wolfpack have only lost one game in their last seven. They're very hot right now.

Kansas, on the other hand, squeaked by Purdue and is lucky to be in the Sweet 16. Although many would think that the Jayhawks had a wake-up call and will be fine from here on out, I'll go ahead and disagree with them.

This game is prime for an upset.

Prediction: North Carolina State 75, Kansas 74